Wild pitch: Dodgers billboard announcing TV channel launch premature

A billboard touting the launch of SportsNet L.A., the Dodgers’ new television network, was spotted on the 405 Freeway in Culver City on Wednesday, but the team said it went up too soon and has asked Clear Channel to take it down. (Photo by Tom Hoffarth)

A billboard announcing the launch of the Dodgers’ new SportsNet L.A. channel on Feb. 25 has been covered up after the team realized it was put up prematurely.

The Clear Channel billboard featuring Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was in place for several hours Wednesday off the 405 Freeway in Culver City. It drew attention on Twitter before a Dodgers employee saw it and realized the mistake had been made.

“We’re pleased about the excitement it generated, but we have asked the Clear Channel billboard operators to take it down until we are ready to start the campaign,” Lon Rosen, the Dodgers executive VP and chief marketing officer, said this morning. “This isn’t a campaign where we were trying to leak the information out and stir up interest.”

Clear Channel Communications, one of the largest billboard companies in the world, also happens to own the Dodgers’ flagship radio station, KLAC-AM (570).

In January 2013, the Dodgers announced they would launch their own channel after breaking long ties with Fox Sports West’s Prime Ticket partner. Time Warner Cable is behind the venture, reportedly paying as much as $7 billion for a 25-year deal. TWC launched a channel devoted to the Lakers called TWC SportsNet and TWC Deportes in October 2012.